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Megan Doty

I am the e-Learning Engagement Specialist with NSTA. I look forward to working with teachers to ensure their science instruction is innovative and engaging for all students. Before coming to NSTA, I worked as a first grade teacher in Omaha, Nebraska and received my Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Location

VA

Affiliation

NSTA

Social Media

Recent Posts by Megan

Hi Victoria,
I've found an article here in the Learning Center that may be of help! It discusses an activity to help with animal classification, and gives ideas for both younger and older students. Let me know if you use it in your classroom!
https://common.nsta.org/resource/default.aspx?id=10.2505%2f4%2fsc07_045_01_42
Does anyone else have any ideas?
-Megan

Hi Maria,
I found a couple of articles with some ideas regarding shadows that you may be able to use! The first describes an entire 5E lesson about light and shadows - perhaps you can use parts of what is described here as your "Engage:"
https://common.nsta.org/resource/default.aspx?id=10.2505%2f4%2fsc12_050_02_78
I also found an article that uses a formative assessment probe to get stud...

Hi Vivian,
I found two articles here in the Learning Center that might help! The first describes a few different activities to try for grades 2-4: https://common.nsta.org/resource/default.aspx?id=10.2505%2f4%2fsc12_050_02_62
The second describes activities for preschoolers, but I wonder if you might be able to scaffold it up for your students:
https://common.nsta.org/resource/default.asp...

Recent Reviews by Megan

Interactive word walls put the students in charge of their vocabulary understanding. Classes can add pictures, labels, even real-world objects to the word wall to increase understanding of concept-specific words. These word walls allow for differentiation throughout classes, as different classes can add the specific supports they need. This would be an engaging way to assist students with their vocabulary understanding.

This article explains how students involved in a science club researched and modeled sunspots over time. It explains how students collaborated with themselves and professionals to better explain their findings. Students learned how to make a model and revise it after peer review to better present their research.

This article explains an engineering activity used in first grade that incorporates science and math. Students are required to build a cost effective house that can withstand "wind," "rain," and an "earthquake" (tests completed in the classroom, not actual weather events). Students must create their houses with materials they "buy" from a class store to incorporate their math skills. Overall, a fun and enriching experience!